As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The members were enthusiastic to help the problem presenter. They asked many good questions. However, the problem presenter responded it’s confidential information and would not answer some of the questions. Members felt they were not able to help the problem presenter if their questions were not answered. Consequently, they could not see the value of action learning in this instance. But the problem presenter felt the session was useful to him in addressing his problem.
Posts Tagged ‘Action Learning’
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The team starts to identify actions before the end of the session.
Leading the learning function within a large and fast growing company as Google, WIAL Action Learning is attractive both in its structure and its results. Through the virtual session we experienced, we were able to bring Action Learning to our teams and integrate the methodology into our problem solving and decision making groups.
“WIAL Action Learning is attractive both in its structure and its results.”
Dr. Veronica Haight
Google People Operations
Google
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Someone asks a question that changes the depth and understanding of the true nature of the problem.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Someone asks a question that changes the depth and understanding of the true nature of the problem.
For ThoughtWorks, talent is the source of the enterprise’s growth and competitive advantage. ThoughtWorks’ AURORA-Leader Development Program used Action Learning as a core method to build a talented team with excellent capabilities, broader vision and connection with the culture and mission.
During the 6 month program, trainees follow a cycle around real scenarios, learning, practice and retrospect. Each of them receives the support from a mentor, an external WIAL Action Learning coach, and the BU head.
Action learning allows trainees to think about and explore the macro issues facing senior leaders at the company’s strategic and organizational level, and at the same time work on their individual leadership development. Action learning helps us to solve real organizational problems and evaluate the corresponding results. After 2 successful years, the third AURORA starts this year !
“The more complex the problems are, the more significant improvement in trainee’s leadership capability can be observed.”
Song Zhang
Managing Director
ThoughtWorks China
Lyreco is one of the world’s leading B2B distributors of Office and Workplace products with a strong and growing ecommerce presence complementing its traditional channels. Operating in Europe for over ninety years, Asia has been one of the growth markets for the past two decades. Due to rapid growth over in Thailand, the local leadership team were searching for a way to confront many of the internal challenges resulting from rapid expansion.
Action Learning was identified as a key tool and over a six-month period, two groups of directors and managers attended foundation courses in Action Learning in either Thai or English. Seven potential coaches were selected from the earlier cohorts who were trained to become Certified Action Learning Coaches (CALC). Within the first year, the CALC at Lyreco were holding regular cross-functional Action Learning sessions with a wide selection of attendees from Lyreco in Thailand.
There have been many benefits, even in the first year; Action Learning has clearly promoted work related interaction between the departments at the different geographical locations in Thailand and all the participants are learning from each other about what is happening and planned for the future in their departments and Lyreco as whole.
The Action Learning group members are learning to ask powerful questions and it has created a format where people “have’ to ask work related questions, where previously it may have been seen as culturally inappropriate or insensitive to ask questions.
The company has clearly begun to develop a learning culture and whilst the Action Learning is helping to solve problems, we see this as a by-product, as the improved inter-departmental cooperation and openness to ask questions amongst our employees producing learning and better understanding is already a real benefit.
“Whilst there is still work to change the perception of some employees of Action Learning from a short-term program to becoming being part of our DNA, I am confident that the benefits of Action Learning will continue to impact everyone who has been exposed to it whether they remain at Lyreco or continue their career elsewhere.”
David RECORD
Managing Director
Lyreco Co., Limited Thailand
The Thermo Fisher Scientific team brought together 130 team members from various functions in two locations- Taiwan and Singapore to discover the power of Action Learning. Participants experienced the importance and benefits of Psychological Safety when working together. It was a rare occasion where our participants could share freely about their challenges at work. With the guidance of the Action Learning coaches, participants started learning the skills of active listening and understanding the power of questioning.
“The Action Learning coaches created a safe environment for us to share about challenges and to learn. That leads to open and courageous communication among team members, and to both challenge and help others think through the issues they are facing.”
David Loke
Regional Sales Training & Development Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Co., Ltd. built its second youth-talent development program around Action Learning with a hybrid training model to improve abilities in problem-solving, innovation and leadership. In the intensive learning, participants integrate their learning results with actual work through deliberate practices and tools of “leadership in action”.
Their projects help solve important issues supporting the company’s strategy while strengthening participants’ leadership and teamwork.The program has become a benchmark of talent development in the company and the WIAL Action Learning skills are deployed to the talent development at all levels of the company.
“Action learning develops a systematic and deductive way of thinking and supplements participants’ intrinsic mindset and subjective experience. The program has helped the company build up young people who identify with the company culture, dare to innovate and who bring an enterprising spirit, efficient working ability and professional accomplishment.”
Mr. Teng Li
Training Manager
China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Co., Ltd.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The participants are asking extraordinarily curious questions.
Third Edition of the field-defining book!
by Michael Marquardt, Shannon Banks, Peter Cauwelier and Choon Seng Ng
Originated by Reginald Evans in the 1940’s, the Action Learning Model was refined and then reintroduced in 1995 by lead author Michael Marquardt to organizations globally as a powerful tool for improving organizational performance. Today, Marquardt is widely considered to be the modern “father” of the Action Learning approach. For this new edition, Marquardt has teamed up with three Action Learning experts from Asia and the UK who bring a broader global approach to what has become THE seminal book in the field.
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
Each chapter has been updated for alignment with today’s practice and implementation of Action Learning in organizations. In addition, new material, including case studies have been added to most chapters and outdated ones replaced. The authors have added more examples of great questions in Chapter 4 (Questions & Reflections), more discussion of virtual Action Learning in Chapter 3 (The Group) and completely new content in Chapter 7 (The Action Learning Coach), specifically on how to begin Action Learning sessions and how to become a Certified Action Learning Coach.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
A participant ‘playfully’ hits another member on the back of the head.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
The team decides it is too beautiful inside to stay indoors and opts to move outside to a picnic table.
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
A member stands during a session.
The Healthcare Leadership College under MOH Holdings Pte Ltd used Action Learning as a foundation for the Activist for Change Programme, one of the key leadership development initiatives. The WIAL Action Learning coaches lead by Mr. Choon Seng Ng participated in the curriculum design, supported the various teams to work on their projects and coached the competency development of individuals and teams.
“Mr Ng and the team of WIAL Action Learning Coaches were definitely a valuable resource in the development and running of the Activist for Change Programme.”
Trevor Chua
Assistant Director
MOH Holdings Pte Ltd (MOHH) Singapore